Machine having rear-mounted tool coupler

Abstract

A machine is disclosed as having a body, and left and right traction devices supporting opposing sides of the body. The machine may also have a power source mounted to the body at a front end relative to a normal travel direction. The power source may be configured to drive the left and right traction devices. The machine may further have left and right lift arms. Each of the left and right lift arms may have a base end pivotally connected at a back end of the body to a location gravitationally above the left and right traction devices, respectively. The machine may additionally have a tool coupler mounted to distal ends of the left and right lift arms.

What is claimed is 
     
         1 . A machine, comprising:
 a body;   left and right traction devices supporting opposing sides of the body;   a power source mounted to the body at a front end relative to a normal travel direction, the power source being configured to drive the left and right traction devices;   left and right lift arms, each having a base end pivotally connected at a back end of the body to a location gravitationally above the left and right traction devices, respectively; and   a tool coupler mounted to distal ends of the left and right lift arms.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , further including:
 a left adapter configured to connect the base end of the left lift arm to a left side of the body; and   a right adapter configured to connect the base end of the right lift arm to right side of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the left and right adapters are generally L-shaped, having a vertical portion configured to extend along a door rear frame of the machine and a horizontal portion configured to extend along a cabin floor of the machine; and   the base end of each of the left and right lift arms is pivotally connected to a distal end of the vertical portion.   
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 2 , further including:
 lift cylinders extending from the left and right adapters to the left and right lift arms, respectively; and   tilt cylinders extending from the left and right lift arms to opposing sides of the tool coupler.   
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the left and right traction devices includes an idler wheel, a drive sprocket, and a track extending around the idler wheel and the drive sprocket; and   each of the lift cylinders has a stationary end located above the track and between the idler wheel and the drive sprocket, and a movable end that moves through an arc above the track during lifting of the tool coupler.   
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein when the tool coupler is in a lowest position, the movable ends of the lift cylinders are located above the drive sprocket. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1 , further including an operator cabin supported by the body and having a floor, wherein when the tool coupler is lifted to a highest position, the left and right lift arms are completely above the floor of the operator cabin. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein when the tool coupler is lifted to the highest position, the left and right lift arms are generally parallel with the floor of the operator cabin. 
     
     
         9 . A machine, comprising:
 a body;   an operator cabin supported on the body and having a floor;   left and right traction devices connected to opposing sides of the body;   a power source mounted to the body at a front end of the operator cabin relative to a normal travel direction, the power source being configured to drive the left and right traction devices;   left and right lift arms pivotally connected at a back end of the body; and   a tool coupler mounted to the left and right lift arms,   wherein the left and right lift arms are located completely above the floor of the operator cabin when raised to a highest lift position.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9 , further including:
 a left adapter configured to connect a base end of the left lift arm to a left side of the body; and   a right adapter configured to connect a base end of the right lift arm to right side of the body.   
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein:
 each of the left and right adapters are generally L-shaped, having a vertical portion configured to extend along a door rear frame of the machine and a horizontal portion configured to extend along a cabin floor of the machine; and   the base end of each of the left and right lift arms is pivotally connected to a distal end of the vertical portion.   
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , further including:
 lift cylinders extending from the left and right adapters to the left and right lift arms, respectively; and   tilt cylinders extending from the left and right lift arms to opposing sides of the tool coupler.   
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein:
 each of the left and right traction devices includes an idler wheel, a drive sprocket, and a track extending around the idler wheel and the drive sprocket; and   each of the lift cylinders has a stationary end located above the track and between the idler wheel and the drive sprocket, and a movable end that moves through an arc above the track during lifting of the tool coupler.   
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein when the tool coupler is in a lowest position, the movable ends of the lift cylinders are located above the drive sprocket. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein when the left and right lift arms are raised to the highest lift position, the left and right lift arms are generally parallel with the floor of the operator cabin. 
     
     
         16 . A machine, comprising:
 a body;   an operator cabin supported on the body and having a floor;   left and right traction devices connected to opposing sides of the body;   a power source mounted to the body at a front end of the operator cabin relative to a normal travel direction, the power source being configured to drive the left and right traction devices;   a tool linkage system removably connected to the front end of the body; and   a tool coupler non-removably connected to a rear end of the body.   
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16 , further including left and right lift arms connecting the tool coupler to the body, each of the left and right lift arms having a base end pivotally connected to the body at a location gravitationally above the left and right traction devices, and a distal end connected to the tool coupler. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the left and right lift arms are located completely above the floor of the operator cabin when raised to a highest lift position. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 17 , further including:
 a left adapter configured to connect the base end of the left lift arm to a left side of the body; and   a right adapter configured to connect the base end of the right lift arm to right side of the body, wherein;
 each of the left and right adapters are generally L-shaped, having a vertical portion configured to extend along a door rear frame of the operator cabin and a horizontal portion configured to extend along the floor of the operator cabin; and 
 the base end of each of the left and right lift arms is pivotally connected to a distal end of the vertical portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , further including:
 lift cylinders extending from the left and right adapters to the left and right lift arms, respectively; and   tilt cylinders extending from the left and right lift arms to opposing sides of the tool coupler,   wherein:
 each of the left and right traction devices includes an idler wheel, a drive sprocket, and a track extending around the idler wheel and the drive sprocket; and 
 each of the lift cylinders has a stationary end located above the track and between the idler wheel and the drive sprocket, and a movable end that moves through an arc above the track during lifting of the tool coupler.